Soon, a new website to know the progress of drug-discovery research

Mysore District

Speaking at the 67th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress 2015 on Sunday, Secretary to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, New Delhi, V K Subbaraj  said the website would offer information on the status of the ongoing research on drug discovery by various institutions in the public and private sector across  the  country.
 
Besides, an annual book on the status of research, which serves as a guiding tool to scientists and students across the world, will also be brought out. The Department of Pharmaceuticals would also hold an annual seminar to share information on the progress in various research activities on drug discoveries, he said.
 
Though the Indian pharmaceutical industry is large and exports drugs to more than 200 countries, Dr Subbaraj said the country was lagging in drug discovery. He said the Research and Development (R&D) in drug discovery not only takes a lot of time, but also involves a lot of expenditure.

“To produce one new molecule, it takes 10 to 15 years of intensive research and it involves an expenditure of almost Rs. 10,000 crore,” he said, adding that even large companies do not take up research in drug discovery because of these factors. Besides, there is no guarantee that research will succeed. The average success rate is only 4 per cent, he revealed.

Admitting that there were too many regulations in the pharmaceutical sector, he said the drug manufacturers in India also had to obtain approvals from number of Departments and Ministries like the Pharmaceutical Department, Health, Commerce, etc. before they could venture into R&D. He batted for a unified regulatory system in the country that would ensure ease of doing business.

Meanwhile a Vision Document: Pharmacists for a Healthy India was released in the Congress which defines 10 functions for the pharmacist that includes being accessible by going beyond their role in medical shops, and being patient-centred by recognising the patients’ rights and helping them understand their disease, its treatment and prevention.

It also envisages a role for the pharmacist in providing medication management activities by participating in decisions as to whether a medicine is required, and if yes, the appropriate choice for the individual, accepting the responsibility for safe dispensing of medicine, with appropriate advice and written information for safe and effective use of the medicine.